Phacelia stellaris
Brand's star phacelia
(c) Sula Vanderplank, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Phacelia stellaris (Brand's star phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by curved pedicels and deeply lobed basal leaves.
Brand's star phacelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern coastal California in open coastal-sage scrub areas at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this delicate plant produces light blue to purple bell-shaped flowers 3 to 5 millimeters long with curved flower stalks. Growing 6 to 25 centimeters tall with spreading to ascending stems branched at the base, it has a delicate, open growth habit. Its leaves are predominantly basal, 5 to 70 millimeters long, with oblanceolate to ovate blades that are deeply lobed or compound, featuring rounded to obtuse leaf segments. The fruit is an ovoid structure 4.5 to 6 millimeters long, containing 8 to 20 small pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; distinguished by curved pedicels and deeply lobed basal leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas, coastal-sage scrub
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Phacelia stellaris blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Nemophila: Phacelia has flowers in coiled scorpion-tail clusters; Nemophila has solitary showy flowers at leaf axils.; vs Eucrypta: Phacelia is typically non-sticky with seeds that fall out cleanly; Eucrypta feels very sticky and retains 1-2 seeds in fruit.; vs Pholistoma: Phacelia has coiled flower clusters; Pholistoma has flowers scattered along stems with backward-pointing stem bristles.; vs Echium: Phacelia has coiled clusters of small flowers; Echium has large showy blue-purple flowers in tall spike-like clusters.; vs Gilia: Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and bristly foliage; Gilia has flowers in round heads or loose clusters with smoother foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phacelia stellaris native to California?
Yes. Phacelia stellaris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia stellaris bloom?
Phacelia stellaris blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Phacelia stellaris grow?
Phacelia stellaris occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Phacelia stellaris belong to?
Phacelia stellaris is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia stellaris rare or endangered?
Phacelia stellaris carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.